Delhi-based businessman Sunil Jain was promised an orchard along with the house he bought from Ansal Housing and Construction Ltd (AHCL). The developer collected a huge amount for the orchard. But when it wasn’t delivered, Jain raised the issue with the developer. The developers agreed to allot him an orchard at a different location, but Jain refused to accept it. He then went to a consumer court for redressal of his grievance. On March 4, 2009, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi, decided that the developer should refund the amount deposited by Jain and compensate him for deficiency in service, causing mental agony, harassment, and financial loss. It took Jain almost 19 years to get justice.

In another case, one Vinod Shrivastava had to wait for more than four years to receive possession of his house being constructed by Ansal Housing and Construction. He filed a case with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in New Delhi. On January 13, 2009, the Commission arrived at the conclusion that the construction of the house should have been completed by 1991, but it was actually completed in 1995. Since deficiency in service on the developer’s part was established, compensation was awarded along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum.

In both these cases, though the aggrieved buyers had to wage long court battles against the developer, they finally got redress from the courts.

SAGA OF LEGAL BATTLES

Many more cases of distressed buyers filing cases in consumer courts against the Ansals exist. Some buyers have fought their cases all the way up to the Supreme Court.

... contd.